Search - Wynton Marsalis :: In This House on This Morning

In This House on This Morning
Wynton Marsalis
In This House on This Morning
Genres: Jazz, Pop, Gospel
 
  •  Track Listings (13) - Disc #1
  •  Track Listings (8) - Disc #2

The biggest problem with the piece is the excessive claims made for it as program music in the overly effusive liner notes. Some of the sections have clear roots in church music; others have only the most tenuous relatio...  more »

     
   
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CD Details

All Artists: Wynton Marsalis
Title: In This House on This Morning
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 1
Label: Sony
Original Release Date: 3/22/1994
Release Date: 3/22/1994
Genres: Jazz, Pop, Gospel
Styles: Modern Postbebop, Bebop
Number of Discs: 2
SwapaCD Credits: 2
UPC: 074645322025

Synopsis

Amazon.com
The biggest problem with the piece is the excessive claims made for it as program music in the overly effusive liner notes. Some of the sections have clear roots in church music; others have only the most tenuous relation. And while some motifs are carried over from piece to piece, the 21 sections and sub- sections make more sense as discreet compositions than as one large work. That said, it must be added that these 21 tunes are for the most part exceptional. Marsalis comes up with striking melodic themes and then finds marvelously imaginative ways to harmonize each figure. Moreover, his musicians--especially saxophonist Todd Williams and trombonist Wessell Anderson--are skilled enough that Marsalis's own trumpet solos don't stand out as isolated peaks. If you can ignore the exaggerated claims made for the extended work, you would be hard put to find a better jazz band playing better music. --Geoffrey Himes

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Member CD Reviews

CONRAD S. (conrad777) from ENGLEWD CLFS, NJ
Reviewed on 11/1/2008...
this is one of my favorite Wynton Marsalis CDs.
0 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.

CD Reviews

Beautiful, powerful, rhythm and melody. Exceptional.
mike.kelly@zen.co.uk | UK | 08/25/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)

"I would reinforce the last lines of the Amazon review (and ignore the rest!). Of a wide and varied jazz collection this is one of those discs that I come back to time and time again.I saw the septet playing this set on TV some years ago and then hunted the album down. It is beautiful, powerful music with strong melodic and rhythmic themes that weave throughout.Lots of people seem to be very suspicious of "modern" jazz, and I have to agree there's a lot of formulaic stuff around, but this album demonstrates that exceptional music continues to be made."
The Insufferable Wynton Marsalis
Michael A. Beyer | Chicago, IL United States | 03/08/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Amazon review here is dead on the money. If they awarded Grammys for Most Pompous Liner Notes, "In This House, On This Morning" would win every year. It is truly the standard by which others will be forever judged. It's too bad, because this album is by far his best. It's not even a debate. The music here follows a typical church service, from the opening processional to the roaring, fire-and-brimstone sermon, to the awe-inspiring prayers, to the recessional and finally to the "Pot-Blessed Dinner".



My main complaint with Wynton Marsalis is sometimes he is too letter-perfect in his appreciation of the old masters and the way jazz should be played. I'm with him on that, but sometimes it seems his own style is too clean -- almost like the music of a classical orchestra as opposed to a jazz band. Sometimes he can escape from that, and put out masterpieces such as "Intimacy Calling, Vol. 2" and this album. When he does, Marsalis is indeed a jazz giant, and at $3 in the "used" section of Amazon Marketplace, this album is also right now the greatest bargain in jazz.



The total mastery evident on "In This House, On This Morning" is even more infuriating in the wake of the liner notes, which threaten to overshadow the album's greatness. Written by Stanley Crouch, the liner notes breathlessly remind the privileged listener that Marsalis "is the greatest trumpet player in the last thirty years". Hmm. Let's put that question to Herbie Hancock. The text also plays up Marsalis' housekeeper, who is quoted after listening to band the night before: "God visited you all last evening."



Well, enjoy God's music, brought to you by His personal messenger Wynton Marsalis, the Inventor of Jazz Music. However, this album is so great you can almost forgive him. I should be happy that this album is sliding into oblivion, but in the end the music wins out. If you love jazz, you should have "In This House, On This Morning"."